Applying for permanent residence

Apply for a health card under the Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP).

Timelines

There is no deadline to apply for status as a permanent resident, but it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. Processing time is long. It is not unusual to wait two years or more.

Refugees who are Designated Foreign Nationals cannot apply for permanent residence until five years after their claim was accepted. During this time, they cannot apply to bring family members to Canada.